Designation: C 1025 – 91 (Reapproved 2000)
Standard Test Method for
Modulus of Rupture in Bending of Electrode Graphite1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1025; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers determination of the modulus of
rupture in bending of specimens cut from graphite electrodes
using a simple square cross section beam in four-point loading
at room temperature.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 651 Test Method for Flexural Strength of Manufactured
Carbon and Graphite Articles Using Four-Point Loading at
Room Temperature2
C 709 Terminology Relating to Manufactured Carbon and
Graphite2
C 783 Practice for Core Sampling of Graphite Electrodes2
E 4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing Machines3
E 691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
Determine the Precision of a Test Method4
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions: For definitions of terms relating to manu-
factured carbon and graphite, see Terminology C 709.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 modulus of rupture in bending— the value of maxi-
mum stress in the extreme fiber of a specified beam loaded to
failure in bending computed from the calculations in Section 9.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 This test method provides a means for determining the
modulus of rupture of a square cross section graphite specimen
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D02.15 on Manufactured Carbon and Graphite Products .
Current edition approved Feb. 22, 1991. Published June 1991. Originally
published as C 1025 – 84. Last previous edition C 1025 – 84.
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 05.05.
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 03.01.
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1
An American National Standard
machined from the electrode core sample obtained according to
Practice C 783, with a minimum core diameter of 57 mm (2.25
in.) This test method is recommended for quality control or
quality assurance purposes, but should not be relied upon to
compare materials of radically different particle sizes or
orientational characteristics. For these reasons as well as those
discussed in 4.2 an absolute value of flexural strength may not
be obtained.
4.2 Specimen Size— The maximum particle size and maxi-
mum pore size vary greatly for manufactured graphite elec-
trodes, generally increasing with electrode diameter. The test is
on a rather short stubby beam, therefore the shear stress is not
insignificant compared to the flexural stress, and the test results
may not agree when a different ratio or specimen size is used.
5. Apparatus
5.1 The testing machine shall conform to the requirements
of Sections 14 and 17 of Practices E 4.
5.2 The four-point loading fixture shall consist of bearing
blocks which ensure that forces applied to the beam are normal
only and without eccentricity. (See Test Method C 651.) The
directions of loads and reactions may be maintained parallel by
judicious use of linkages, rocker bearings, and flexure plates.
Eccentricity of loading can be avoided by the use of spherical
bearings. Provision must be made in fixture design for relief of
torsional loading to less than 5 % of the nominal specimen
strength. Refer to Fig. 1 for a suggested four-point fixture.
5.3 The bearing block diameter shall be between 1⁄10 and
1⁄20 of the specimen support span, 12 mm (0.50 in.) to 6 mm
(0.25 in.). A hardened steel bearing block or its equivalent is
necessary to prevent distortion of the loading member.
6. Test Specimen
6.1 Sampling—A core sample (minimum of 57 mm (2.25
in.) diameter and 165 mm (6.50 in.) long) shall be obtained
from the electrode in accordance with Practice C 783.
6.2 Preparation— A test specimen shall be prepared from
the core to yield a parallelepiped of square cross section. The
faces shall be parallel and flat within 0.002 mm/mm (0.002
in./in.) of length. Specimen edges shall be free from visible
flaws and chips. All surfaces shall be smooth with a surface
texture equivalent to that obtained from a precision band saw
or better.
6.3 The square cross section specimen shall be 38 by 38 mm
(1.50 by 1.50 in.) and at least 153 mm (6.0 in.) long.
 C 1025

FIG. 1 Beam with Four-Point Loading (Not to Scale)

6.4 Measurements— All dimensions shall be measured to at 9.1.1 Modulus of rupture:

least 0.03 mm (0.001 in.). MOR 5 Mc/I
6.5 Drying—Each specimen must be dried in an oven at
greater than 110°C for 2 h. The specimen must then be cooled MOR 5 ~PL/bt2!~1000!
to room temperature in a desiccator and held there prior to 9.1.2 Maximum bending moment:
testing. M 5 ~P/2!~L/3!
7. Procedure 9.1.3 Distance from the neutral axis to the location where
7.1 Center the specimen in the test fixture. Make sure that the fiber failed:
no extraneous torsional loads are being introduced to the c 5 ~t/2!
specimen. 9.1.4 Moment of inertia of the original cross-section:
7.2 The support span shall be equal to three times the
specimen thickness, 114 mm (4.5 in.). The load span shall be I 5 ~ bt3/12!
one third the support span, 38 mm (1.50 in.). Refer to Fig. 1. where:
7.3 Apply the breaking load at a maximum rate of 0.02 MOR = modulus of rupture, kPa (psi · 10 –3),
mm/s (0.05 in./min). M = maximum bending moment, N · mm (lbf · in),
c = distance from the neutral axis to the location where
8. Test Data Record
the fiber failed, mm (in.),
8.1 Measurements to 0.03 mm (0.001 in.) shall be made to I = moment of inertia of the original cross-section, mm
determine the average width and thickness of the specimen at (in.),
the section of failure. P = maximum applied load indicated by the testing
8.2 The load at failure shall be recorded to 61 %. machine, N (lbf),
L = support span length, mm (in.),
9. Calculation b = average width of the specimen, mm (in.), and
9.1 If the fracture occurs within the load span, calculate the t = average thickness of the specimen, mm (in.).
modulus of rupture, the maximum bending moment, the 9.2 If the fracture occurs outside of the load span, this
distance from the neutral axis to the location where the fiber observation shall be reported.
failed, and the moment of inertia of the original cross section 9.3 A multiplying factor of 0.145 may be used to convert
as follows: kPa to psi.

2
 C 1025
10. Report
10.1 The report of each test shall include the following:
10.1.1 Sample identification,
10.1.2 Average width to the nearest 0.03 mm (0.001 in.),
10.1.3 Average thickness to nearest 0.03 mm (0.001 in.),
10.1.4 Support span length, mm (in.),
10.1.5 Rate of loading, mm (in.)/min. or N (lb)/min.
10.1.6 Maximum applied load, N (lb),
10.1.7 Modulus of rupture calculated to the nearest 70 kPa
(10 psi),
10.1.8 Defects in specimen,
10.1.9 Orientation and location of specimen within the
parent electrode, and
10.1.10 Failure mode and location.
11. Precision and Bias 5
11.1 The precision of this test method (see Practice E 691)
was determined from an ASTM round robin test on 38-mm
(1.50-in.) square cross section specimens which were cut from
a 153-mm (6.0-in.) thick slab from a 610 mm (24.0 in.)
diameter premium grade electrode having a maximum particle
size less than 6 mm (0.25 in.). Since this round robin was a
destructive test, each participating laboratory tested only their
samples. The samples sent to each laboratory were selected so
as to represent the slab of graphite; that is, samples from
different radial locations within the 610-mm (24.0-in.) diam-
eter slab. Hence the stated precision not only represents the
variations within the test itself but also the variations within the
sampled electrode.
11.2 The referenced ASTM round robin test was a multi-
purpose test and only that portion of the test data accumulated
on four-point bending tests on square cross section specimens
was analyzed to arrive at the stated precision. Six laboratories
participated in the test to the extent that their methodology and
test fixtures conform to, but may not be identical to, this
method and the fixture shown in Fig. 1.
5
Supporting data are available from ASTM Headquarters. Request RR: C-5-
1009.
11.3 The six sets of data contained all of the specimens of
the stated test geometry, and form a homogeneous population.
The data also exhibited a correlation between strength and
density. Their mean strength, corrected by regression to the
mean density, was 225.4 kPa (1550 psi) with a standard
deviation of 4.3 kPa (110 psi). Plotted on probability paper,
their distribution appeared normal with no significant skewness
or kurtosis. Tested by analysis of variation with degrees of
freedom 5 (between groups) and 24 (within groups against the
null hypothesis and the random effects hypothesis), a differ-
ence between labs was barely discernible. The null hypothesis
was satisfied at 90 % confidence level. The confidence band on
the ratio of variances (between labs to within labs) included
zero at the two-sided 80 % confidence level. Best estimates for
the standard deviations are:
11.3.1 Between Laboratories:
sb5 6.76 kPa ~47 psi!
with 5 df.
11.3.2 Within Laboratories:
sw 5 14.6 kPa ~100 psi!
with 24 df.
11.3.3 Mean Value:
x̄ 5 225.4 kPa ~1550 psi!
11.3.4 It can also be safely concluded that the within-lab
variability is largely due to materials variability for which no
data was available for correlation. Known effects include
orientation and disparate flaws.
11.4 The stated precision of this test will probably worsen if
electrodes having a maximum particle size larger than 6 mm
(0.25 in.) are tested using this test method.
11.5 Bias—Bias cannot be determined as this is a destruc-
tive test and no standard specimens are available.
12. Keywords
12.1 carbon; electrode graphite; flexural strength; graphite;
modulus of rupture

The American Society for Testing and Materials takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
with any item mentioned in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such
patent rights, and the risk of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years and
if not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standards
and should be addressed to ASTM Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of the responsible
technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you should make your
views known to the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.

This standard is copyrighted by ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the above address or at
610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or service@astm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website (www.astm.org).